Michell's 34 points lifts Braves

Monday

Dec 11, 2017 at 6:06 PM

By The Herald Staff

Today’s home match up bodes well for the Braves.

Over the past four contests, the Ottawa University men’s basketball team is averaging more than 92 points per game. The team’s four-game winning streak has catapulted it from the bottom of the Kansas Collegiate Conference to a four-way tie for second place.

Bethel College (3-9, 2-5 KCAC) has lost seven of its last eight games. During that span, opponents have eclipsed 90 points four times, and no team has scored below 82. The Threshers are giving up an average of 90.57 points per game in seven conference contests.

Ottawa (5-6, 5-2 KCAC) dukes it out with the Threshers 7 p.m. today at Wilson Field House on the OU campus, 1001 S. Cedar St., Ottawa.

The Braves are coming off another high-scoring, back-and-forth affair. They beat McPherson College Saturday on the road 94-86.

Ottawa trailed a total of 1:19 minutes in the second half, but the Bulldogs stayed within striking distance until late.

Tasmania Indaiana Jones, junior forward, extended OU’s lead to double-digits, 81-70, off a basket with 4:19 left. From there, McPherson went on a 16-8 run, thanks in part to two three-pointers sunk by Aaron Buchura, to narrow the window to three with 1:18 left.

From there, McPherson missed three shots on its next three possessions. Hollis Mitchell, senior guard, and Alex Greisen, junior guard, combined for 3-4 free throws when the Bulldogs were forced to foul, icing the win.

Mitchell shot a near perfect game, helping his team’s 50.8 field goal percent (31-61). He led all scorers with 34 points, hitting 9-15 from the field, 6-8 from beyond the arc and a spotless 10-10 from the line. He was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Week.